The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-11-05
The question of a New Constitution.

Among the questions to be decided at
the polls next Tuesday, is whether or not
the people will call convention to alter OF
change the present constitution or frame
new one The trainers of the present con-
stitution put clause in it requiring vote
to be taken in the year 1887 as to change
in the organic law. The question comes
before the people, then, not as a party
measure. but because the constitution re-
quires it.
Two years ago there was very general
desire for a change. The Democrats In
the Legislature introduced bill to have
the question of new constitution sub
mitted then, but few Democrats thought
it better to wait until the time designated
by the present one, and these, combined
with the Republicans, were able to post
none the vote. The bill, therefore, was
altered to suit the constitutional require
ment, and on Tuesday next the question
comes up for determination.
The question is not party one. The
Democratic State convention left the mat
ter to the individual judgment of voters,
and next Tuesday every Democrat can vote
as he chooses. The regular Democratic
tickets will have both "For Convention
and against Convention" printed on
them, and the voter can draw his pencil
across one or the other, according to his
sentiments.
The ADVOCATE has had but little to
say upon the matter. 1t is a party jour-
nal, and as there is some division among
Democrats upon the question, it has deemed
it prudent neither to advocate nor oppose
the calling of convention.
The ADVOCATE has, however, in the
past two years had much to say upon the
question of new constitution. and given
its readers light upon the subject The
past summer it spoke of the dangers of too
frequent changes, but also pointed out a
number of defects in the present instru-
ment. one of which was that it contains
much that ought to be left to Legislative
action. There is very general desire for
change in the judiciary system, but that
can be altered by amendment. Other
changes can be made in the same manner,
but there is danger in the patchwork sys-
TEN of destroying the harmony of the
whole The powers of county commits
sioners could be enlarged with advantage
to the people, and their terms could be al
tered so as to elect new one every two
years, thus always having experienced men
in the board. The number, too, should be
uniform in each county. In quite num-
Der there are five commissioners, entailing
unnecessary expense without corresponding
beneficial results to the people. There is
a desire upon the part of many to abolish
the Orphans Court; to reduce the repre-
sentation in the Legislature; to have bet
ter and more uniform tax system; to change
the registration system, &C., &c.
The Democratic State Convention, how
erer, as noted above, left all these matters
to the individual judgment of voters, and
they are free to vote as they please.
The Republicans, however, have made
it a party measure. 1t is well-known that
very many Republicans desire change in
the constitution, but N order to gain the
aid Of Mr.. John K Cowen, who was ex-
pected to lead many thousands of Demo-
Gratis into the Republican party. plank
was put in the state platform declaring
against a change in the organic law. When
the Legislature of 1867 decided to call a
convention to frame new constitution, the
Republican members of the Legislature,
among them Mr. Benjamin Poole,now Re
publican candidate for Orphans Court
Judge, petitioned Congress to take Mary
land under its care; and when the constitu-
ton was framed and passed. it was de-
nounced by every Republican in the state
as an ''infamous" document.
They now, in order to please Mr.. Cowen,
and to obtain his cooperation, have declar-
ed against it, and by resolution have sought
to bind the conscience of every Republican
in the state Upon the Republican tickets
throughout the borders of Maryland will
be printed against Convention" and
no Republican in favor of convention can
vote his sentiments with a regular ticket
without the trouble of expressing them in
writing It is likely, too, no room viii be
left upon the tickets for such writing.
The question is not one for partisan ac-
ton. The Republican State Convention
had no right to undertake to bind the con
sciences of Republican voters upon the
matter, but should have left them free to
decide as they please. Considering the
circumstances under which the pledge was
made, no Republican is bound by the action
of the convention. There is no more rea-
son why the question should be bound up
in party politics than that the constitution
itself should be partisan document.
Carroll county neuer had a more careful
and accommodating County Treasurer than